1 year ago: All Summit County ski resorts report their first snow of the season

Nearly a week after local officials moved fire danger to moderate and removed any fire restrictions, Summit County has received its first snowflakes of the season. On Sept. 13, 2025, Copper Mountain Resort, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area and Keystone Resort announced that they received their first snowfall of the season, and Breckenridge Ski Resort and Loveland Ski Area followed suit on Sept. 14. This trails over a week behind 2024’s first snow fall, which occurred for some Summit County ski resorts on Sept. 5.

— From the Sept. 15, 2025, edition of Summit Daily News

5 years ago: Breckenridge passes short-term rental cap on 1st reading

The Breckenridge Town Council voted unanimously on first reading to pass an ordinance capping the number of nonexempt short-term rental licenses at 2,200, following nearly five hours of public comment overwhelmingly against the move. Council members have been adamant that the primary goal of the ordinance is to stop the conversion of long-term rentals to short-term rentals, but many who are directly involved in the short-term rental industry spoke during public comment, saying the cap won’t fix the workforce housing issue and only takes away the rights of property owners. (The ordinance passed its second reading on Sept. 28 with another unanimous Council vote.)

— From the Sept. 16, 2021, edition of Summit Daily News

10 years ago: Fuel break helps slow down wildfire near Wellington neighborhood 

As the French Gulch Fire burned just a mile away from the Wellington neighborhood in Breckenridge on Sept. 12, 2016, firefighters from the Red, White & Blue Fire Protection District, U.S. Forest Service and Dillon Fire were working hard to contain it, preventing the one-acre blaze from threatening the town. While dry conditions had local fire danger listed as high, the lightning-strike ignition fell at a good spot: fires typically spread uphill, but the area above the fire had been clear cut recently as part of a fuel reduction, providing a fire break and allowing firefighters a better chance of containing the blaze.

— From the Sept. 18, 2016, edition of Summit Daily News

15 years ago: Hole in the Wall, one of the county’s last video rental stores, closes

After nine-and-a-half years of business, Hole in the Wall — Dillon’s video, book, thrift and surplus store — announced it would be closing up shop and selling all its inventory. Owner Mike Gawin opened the shop up in 2002 with about 2,400 VHS tapes. After about three years in business, amid competition from the likes of Netflix and Redbox, Gawin began adding DVDs, groceries, thrift store items and military surplus with the aim of turning the shop into more of a general store. The idea never fully took off, and now his landlord is renovating. After 10 years without a day off, the store is set to close Oct. 12, 2011, after which Gawin is moving to Michigan to take care of his parents.

— From the Sept. 14, 2011, edition of Summit Daily News

30 years ago: Two men arrested after brawl over $5 late video fee at City Market

Two Summit County men were arrested and two City Market employees injured after a disagreement over video rental fees turned violent on Sept. 15, 1996. The fight broke out after the two men attempted to rent a video and the video clerk told them they owed about $5 in late fees. Witnesses said that the two men then pulled the clerk over the counter and started punching and hitting him. Another City Market employee and customer tried to help break up the fight. The clerk was given stitches for a cut near his eye while the other employee suffered a black eye and bloody nose. The two men were charged with third-degree assault.

— From the Sept. 18, 1996, edition of Summit Daily News

125 years ago: Breckenridge residents pay tribute to assasinated President McKinley

Business ceased across Breckenridge on Sept. 19, 1901, as residents filled the Grand Army of the Republic Hall to pay tribute to U.S. President William McKinley. McKinley died on Sept. 14 after being shot by an assassin on Sept. 6. Mayor Robert Foote declared Sept. 19 as a day of mourning and prayer. The Summit County Journal reported that every business closed, the Goldpan Mine’s shops went silent and many went to attend the memorial exercises. The services included eulogies by notable citizens, a few choir numbers and all attending singing “Nearer, my God to thee,” before a closing prayer was given. Mayor Foote sent a message of condolence on behalf of the citizens of Breckenridge to McKinley’s wife Ida.

— From the Sept. 21, 1901, edition of Summit County Journal